Iconoclastic Period Of Byzantine History
The period iconoclastic spans the eighth century. To the Byzantine Empire , is a time of crisis, internal and external, the empire faced with several invaders, Arabs in the east and Bulgaria to the west. Faced with these dangers, the Byzantine emperors forbid the worship of icons , so that the empire unite behind a single sign, monogram , symbol of victory given to the founder of Constantinople , Constantine I. This policy, which creates extremely strong resistance, was abandoned at the end of the century, before the decline of external threats.
Summary |
Justinian II , last of the dynasty of Heraclides , disappeared in 711. Three Emperors (Basileis) succeed the next six years, during which the Bulgarians advancing to Constantinople before being repulsed. Then a new emperor takes power in 717 , just before the Saracens did lay siege to Constantinople a second time. This time the siege is total, but Leo III had time to prepare and after considerable losses, the Saracens lifted the siege in 718. The hostilities continued in Anatolia , but the danger is rejected. Then in 726 , Leo III makes removing the venerated icon of the Chalk is representing Christ and in 730 he ordered the destruction of all icons. The quarrel over images , which is immediately condemned by Pope Gregory II will profoundly change the relationship between Rome and Constantinople. Pope Gregory III reiterated the condemnation of his predecessor after a council in Rome 731.
Therefore, the internal affairs of the Byzantine Empire are mostly occupied by this problem, each being determined according to political preferences in favor (or iconophiles iconodoules) or against the worship of icons (iconoclasm).
The century iconoclast
Constantine V , whose early reign was troubled by a usurper iconophile continues the iconoclastic policy of his father with even more determination and hard work. It engages in persecution and executions even in the circles of power. Nevertheless, it is a great leader and, in the East, he won many victories over the Saracens. Then, finally, in 750 , the dynasty Abbasid seized power in Damascus and transferred the capital to Arab Baghdad. Constantine V can then focus on Bulgaria , where, again, he won many victories. But if it reinforces the boundaries of the empire in the East, he is completely uninterested in the Italy. In 751 , it does nothing to prevent the Lombards to seize the Exarchate of Ravenna. So that the Pope is seeking a new patron, crown the Frankish king Pepin the Short in 754. In return, it offered him 756 former Exarchate back to the Lombards. And, while the Byzantine possessions in the West are shrinking grcis south of Italy, met Constantine V in 754 the Council of Hireia to approve iconoclasm. The gap of misunderstanding between Rome and Constantinople still widening.
The trigger iconophile
Iconoclasm knows its climax with Constantin V. The reign of his son Leo IV is one of appeasement. Although he directs some exemplary punishments, time cruel and relentless persecution is over. But Leo IV is mainly under the influence of his wife Irene , and his death in 780 , it acted as regent of the empire on behalf of their son Constantine VI. Irene was known iconophile and with it the policy changed completely. In 787 , she managed to condemn iconoclasm during a council meeting in Nicaea , despite the opposition of a part of the army still committed to the glorious memory of Constantine V.
For the meantime, the Byzantine army wipes humiliating defeats. In 781 , the Abbasids, who have restored prosperity to Baghdad, took the offensive on the border of Anatolia, forcing the empire to pay them a tribute. The restoration of images under the regency of Irene accompanied by a profound crisis that is in sensational events. In 797 , following the deposition of his son, Irene became the first female emperor of right. Then on Christmas day in the year 800 , Pope Leo III crowned emperor the Frankish king Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus). The influence of Byzantium was severely shaken in the West and finally, Irene was deposed in 802.
His successor Nicephorus I , which maintains the line iconophile of Irene, never ceases to restore the finances and power of the empire. After another humiliating defeat against the Arabs in 806 , the death of Caliph Harun al-Rashid in 809 Nicephorus allows to turn to the Balkans. He began a policy of colonization of the Peloponnese , after more than two centuries of Slavic , then tries to submit Bulgaria. But despite some early superiority, the Byzantine army was trapped and totally massacred in 811 by the army of Krum , the emperor is among the victims. His son Staurakios seriously wounded during the battle, was acclaimed emperor, but his condition did not allow him to exercise his authority. His brother Michel Rangab succeeds this year 811. It has remained in history for being the one who recognized Charlemagne as emperor in 812. After a heavy defeat by the Bulgarians, he was overthrown in 813. Krum's army arrived under the walls of Constantinople.
The second iconoclasm (813-843)
Leo V the Armenian is crowned five days before the siege of the Bulgarians. The army of the Khan , who could do nothing against the powerful fortifications of Constantinople, devastated the surrounding region. When finally the empire is delivered from the threat of Krum , the new emperor began at once a political iconoclast even more severe than the first. New persecutions that occur do not last long because in 820 , Leo V was assassinated after the conspiracy of his former comrade of Michael Amorium. Michael II , founder of the dynasty Amorium, continues the policy of Leo but his persecution is directed mainly against the regular clergy. His reign was marked by the upheaval of civil war, led by a slave named Thomas supported financially by the caliph. Rebels advance to the walls of Constantinople end 821 and the seat is pushed back only after a year, with the support of the Bulgarians. Thomas is finally defeated the following year. But the empire is afflaibli so it is unable to resist the colonization of Crete , about 825 , and Sicily , in 827 by the Saracens.
On the death of Michael II, his son Theophilus decides to favor a moderate policy on the religious. The images remain officially banned and continue to be destroyed in numbers, but the people no longer persecuted. During his reign, Theophilus will constantly, sometimes despite himself, to fight the Arabs, whose culture he admires, however, sometimes winning victories, sometimes wiping defeats. But in 838 , Caliph Al-Mutasim launches a major offensive that led to Amorium besieged it. The city falls at the end of the year and the population is massacred. This defeat caused consternation because Amorium was the place the highest of Anatolia , and therefore nothing prevents the advance of the caliph. The emperor goes to claim the support of the kingdom franc. Finally, the Caliph died in 842 , as Theophilus the same year. Amorium is the seat of the last battle where the Arabs will threaten the existence of the Byzantine Empire, an era ends.
The image restoration
It had become customary to crown the wife of the emperor, empress associated. Thus, although it does that the regency of the empire, the empress Theodora has sufficient authority to conduct policy as it sees fit. Immediately, she decided to do everything to put an end to the iconoclasm. Thus it combines a council the following year, in 843 , which confirms unsurprisingly that of the guns 787. On the military front, the Byzantines reinvest Crete and Anatolia, the golden age of the Byzantine Empire begins.
Loading ...